The General rides again in Jim Wilson's latest painting

In the 2014 update of the "Them Dukes! Them Dukes!" fact book on "The Dukes of Hazzard," BRBTV profiled Canadian artist Jim Wilson, who crafts works of art from his favorite TV show and yours. Well, Jim is at it again, and he just did this lovely piece last weekend. It's the General belonging to his good friend Jason Darling, who also was profiled in the book for his diorama of the recovery of Lee 1 (and their work is also featured in living color on this very blog, too!!!).

Jim's work is all original and so very cool. Thanks, Jim, for sharing it with us again!

Image courtesy of Jim Wilson;

please do not copy without permission.

"Dukes of Hazzard" history inspires this artist and avid fan

We showed you in our March 29 post the talent of Canadian artist Jim Wilson, who paints up very nice "Dukes of Hazzard"-themed scenes. Well, consider today's post "part 2" of that, as we take a look at another talented artist out of Ontario. His medium is quite a bit more three-dimensional than the painted canvas. He's put together a beautiful diorama that chronicles an important event in "Dukes" history -- the recovery of the very first General Lee used for a jump in the TV series, from a home in Georgia many years after its 1979 debut. What's more, this artist, Jason Darling, is friends with Jim Wilson, and it's really their artistic collaboration that you see in the first photo below, with Jim's painting in the background.

If you recall the story, this famous Dodge Charger was found still wearing its blue, roughed-up "71" paint job from its appearance in the fourth episode of the show, "Repo Men," when it doubled as a Richard Petty car. It changed hands a few times after the recovery and has most recently been fully restored to the way it appeared as blazin'-orange, jumpin' "Lee 1" in the pilot episode.

"The idea for the diorama came when Jim and I were talking about it and he had started painting again," Jason says. "I, of course, had many spare Charger model kits so I started my project! I have always followed the 71 story and I was present when it was unveiled at Oxford College (near Covington, Georgia) at the 25th anniversary event by Mr. Bell and helped push it on and off the trailer."

He continues, "I have about 13-14 hours in building the model and have researched it for years. The gentleman who bought it from Travis even contacted me for facts about it before its restoration. I am strongly against 71 ever being restored; I think that was an atrocity."

"Jim Wilson and I pride ourselves in recreating 'Dukes' facts and pieces for each other's collections such as our HOGGOCO oil cans and my and Jim's gas pumps, to name a couple," Jason says. "If Jim and I put our collections together, we would have a very nice 'Dukes of Hazzard' museum."

As with a lot of "Dukes" fans out there, the show made a big impression on this creative fan that goes way beyond art. "My favorite character on the 'Dukes' while it aired will always be Bo Duke, and then Uncle Jesse. I live my life with Bo Duke in my back pocket, with Uncle Jesse's values."

That's part of Jason's collection below. "My favourite episode," he says, "is a tie with 'Happy Birthday, General Lee' and 'The Ghost of General Lee.' I loved the history behind the birthday episode and the emotion behind the ghost episode."

"Jim and I go every day finding new 'Dukes' things and keeping the show alive and honest; we are 'Dukes' cousins for sure," Jason says. "We have helped one another with our collections, and I've even gotten Jim started on some General Lee parts! LOL."

Jason, of course, has his own General. "I'm in the process of building my own second-unit version General Lee, going on five years now, but I'm proud of it. I have been extremely fortunate to attend many 'Dukes' events, and I've gotten to meet every living cast member, something I never would have thought I'd ever get to do four years ago, being that I live down in Canada. The cast of the show are amazing and friendly people."

Jason continues, "I met Jim through an ad on Kijiji looking for General Lee parts -- now we're best friends. Funny how 'Dukes' fans find each other."

Thanks to Jason for sharing his story and his fabulous art!

Photos courtesy of Jason Darling; please do not copy without permission.

Art imitates life, at least the life we'd all love to live in Hazzard County

Jim Wilson of London, Ontario, had dreams like any other kid growing up in the 1970s who watched "The Dukes of Hazzard" when it originally aired. He wanted to meet the Dukes, he wanted to see the Duke farm, and Hazzard Square, and any of the other sites featured on the show. He wanted to see a General Lee.

"Well, I did watch 'The Dukes' every Friday night when it was new, when I was a kid," Jim tells BRBTV. "Looked forward to it, and my mom would always pop some popcorn on the stove for me, back then we did not own a microwave, LOL."

Jim made his dreams come true. He did grow up to meet the cast members, even see John ("Bo Duke") Schneider and Tom ("Luke Duke") Wopat in concert, and he visited Hazzard Square and the Duke farm. And he's seen a few General Lees over the years, both at Dukesfest and elsewhere, even though he lives in the Great White North where it would seem you wouldn't see such a sight!

"You would be surprised, there are a few General Lees around my area," he says. "I always seem to find somebody who enjoys the show. My good friend Jason Darling, who lives near Kingston, Ontario, is building two Generals right now, a dirt tracker and a nice street car."

But while all of that is mighty fine, that's not the reason we're featuring Jim Wilson on the BRBTV News Blog today. You see, he's the kind of fan that is so inspired by "The Dukes" that it touches off his artistic creativity. More specifically, it sets him to painting.

"As for inspiration for the paintings, I like to capture the feel of the late '70s, early '80s," Jim tells us. "Hard to explain, my childhood seemed to last forever back then, always wondering when will I grow up and be a big person like Bo and Luke. I have always drawn things, have a gift I guess. I had a special art teacher who would come in once a week to expand what I had done. Taught me perspective, stuff like that. But basically I just draw or paint or weld what is in my mind."

And what a talent and imagination it is. We especially like his interpretation of the recovery of Lee 1, the very first General ever jumped on "The Dukes of Hazzard." Now, there's an interesting thing to paint, especially for what that moment, and the ensuing years of the car's change in ownership and its restoration, have meant in the "Dukes" fan community, both positive and not so much.

Jim is sure capturing a certain feeling in his work. And it's clear that comes from his own love of the show and of all that surrounds it these days.

"I love going to events in the South," he says. "Last year at the Hazzard Homecoming I finally met Tom Wopat, so now I have met everybody, even Honest John Ledbetter, who until his death lived in Canada. I had a nice talk with him about the 'Dukes.' I can see why Cooter lives in the Blue Ridge mountains. I fell in love with 'em, too. Any reason to go back there, I would. Beautiful."

 

"My favourite 'Dukes' character I would have to say is Uncle Jesse," says Jim, who had the above moment at the site of the original Duke farm in Georgia captured for all time. "I don't own a General Lee yet. That pic of me you saw was just luck that somebody was at the farm with one; he let me pose in front of it. I'd like to mention that the gas pumps were Jason's idea and the Hoggoco oil cans were mine. He lives and breathes the 'Dukes' like me."

And does it seem unusual that such a fervent "Dukes" fan would be Canadian born and bred? Not to us, as we used to attend the Hair Dare Dukes Days in Ontario and see the love of the show there in the North.

"I don't think the Canadian perception is any different from the American on the show," Jim says. "We both know you can't fly a car without damage, LOL. For some reason there are a lot of Confederate flags flying up here. Everybody wants to be a rebel, I guess, and American flags, after 9-11, the stars and stripes were everywhere in Canada in support."

And "The Dukes" isn't the only classic TV show he loves.

"As for what I watch on TV today, not much. I did enjoy the new 'Battlestar Galactica' series. I also like 'The Big Bang Theory.' Everything else I buy on DVD. Love the 'Waltons.' I went to Waltons' Mountain museum last year after the Homecoming as it was two hours away from there. Makes you wish you grew up on Waltons' Mountain. I also enjoy the series 'Rat Patrol' from the '60s. 'Magnum P.I.,' I adore that show. 'The Fall Guy,' 'McHale's Navy,' 'Beverly Hillbillies,' 'Petticoat Junction,' aughhh so many!"

When he's not painting, Jim's "day job" is at St. Thomas Rent-all in St. Thomas, Ontario. He also enjoys making welding sculptures out of scrap material from work, model railroading. "In my younger years I was dirt biker. I miss my motorcycle. ;("

But his No. 01 hobby, as he puts it, is searching for 'Dukes' stuff! He does admit it's harder to find in the Great White North.

"Back in the '80s, Canada had Kmart, (not anymore) and I got my first 'Dukes' toy, an ERTL General Lee. I was so excited. The '90s were a real dry spell for 'Dukes' stuff. I remember hearing about the first reunion movie, but we didn't have cable. I missed out on it, then when the DVDs starting coming out, I was in heaven. It's like every show is brand new again, and that's when I found out about Dukesfest. I HAD TO GO!! My first was 2005 in Bristol, my first real trip South as an adult. Terrible drive there. Long story short, we got there late at night on a back road, thunderstorm, we stayed at a crappy hotel. I woke early next day, it was humid, dark, grey sky, and in the mist, I see my very first General Lee sitting on a trailer. I was so excited, I MADE IT, it was a dream come true, 50,000 people like me in the same town!! And I have been going ever since, pic of that General in the mist included. ;)"

He says traveling to Atlanta was another dream come true. "When I went inside the Duke farm, stood in front of the Boar's Nest, drove around Hazzard Square in my Cadillac at the time. Never thought in a million years I'd ever see this stuff. What HISTORY!"

He continues, "Then a couple years back, I put an ad on Kijiji looking for '69 Charger parts. Well, this guy named Jason Darling answers. He had a trunk lid for me. I met him in Toronto, as it's kinda halfway for both of us. I walked up to him, and I felt like I had known him my whole life. Well, thanks to him, I have a trunk lid and a door, one piece at a time like Johnny Cash. The door blew me away. I met him in Niagara Falls last April for the John and Tom concert. I was thinking I was getting an old rusty dented door; he pulls out of his truck a freshly painted 01 orange door signed by Bo and Luke. I started to well up. I was floored. He is now one of my best friends. I consider him my brother; we text everyday, no less, always comparing 'Dukes' stuff. Amazing who you meet through the 'Dukes.'"

Yup! Don't we know it! Many thanks to Jim for sharing his story.

Photo and art courtesy of Jim Wilson; please do not copy without permission.

BRBTV birthdays for September

- Leonard Katzman, the mastermind behind the Ewings of "Dallas," was born on September 2, 1927 and died on September 5, 1996.
- Annabel Schofield, who played Laurel Ellis on "Dallas," turns 47 on September 4.
- Roberta Weiss / Bizeau, the too-hot-to-handle Flame Beaufort of "Santa Barbara," turns 52 (bet she still looks beautiful!) on September 5.
- Sarah Cunningham, our stalwart Maggie Monahan on "Dallas," was born on September 8, 1918 and died on March 24, 1986.
- Tom Wopat, our own Luke Duke of "The Dukes of Hazzard," turns 59 on September 9.
- Constance Marie, who played Nikki Alvarez on "SB," has a birthday on September 9, as well, turning 45.
- Linda Gray, the unforgettable Sue Ellen Ewing of "Dallas," turns a still-lovely 70 on September 12.
- Mary Crosby, Gray's on-screen baby sister Kristin Shepard, turns 51 on September 14.
- Michael Reaves, writer for "Batman: The Animated Series," turns 60 on September 14.
- Henry Darrow, a BRBTV quadruple-shot who played Cruz Castillo's father Rafael on "Santa Barbara," showed up on an episode of "Dynasty" and the "Dukes of Hazzard" spinoff "Enos," and portrayed Garcia on "Dallas" in 1983, turns 77 on September 15.
- Janis Paige, the lovely second Minx Lockridge on "SB," turns 88 on September 16.
- Kimberly McArthur, who was the second Kelly Capwell on "SB," turns 48 on September 16.
- Morgan Woodward, who was Punk Anderson on "Dallas" and also made a couple guest appearances on "The Dukes of Hazzard" (including one that was a tribute to his appearance in the classic film "Cool Hand Luke"), has a birthday on September 16, as well, turning 85.
- Shalane McCall, our young Charlie Wade on "Dallas," is our final September 16 birthday, remaining so young at just 38.
- Roddy McDowall, who voiced Dr. Jervis Tetch / the Mad Hatter on "Batman: The Animated Series," was born on September 17, 1928 and died on October 3, 1998.
- Ross Kettle, the quite European Jeffrey Conrad on "Santa Barbara," turns 49 on September 19.
- Paul Williams, who voiced Penguin on "Batman: The Animated Series" and "The New Batman Adventures," turns 70 on September 19.
- Don Starr, our own Jordan Lee of "Dallas," was born on September 20, 1917 and died on July 11, 1995.
- The unstoppable Larry Hagman, who was, of course, the unstoppable J.R. Ewing on "Dallas," turns 79 on September 21.
- Catherine Oxenberg, who played long-lost daughter Amanda Carrington on "Dynasty," turns 49 on September 22.
- Martha Scott, memorable as Patricia Shepard on "Dallas," was born on September 22, 1912 and died on May 28, 2003.
- Heather Locklear, our own Sammy Jo of "Dynasty," who voiced the character Lisa on the "Batman: The Animated Series" episode "Prophecy of Doom," turns 49 on September 25.
- Shell Danielson, who was the later Laken Lockridge on "Santa Barbara," also has a birthday on September 25, turning 48.
- Beth Toussaint, our own Tracy Lawton on "Dallas" who's married to Jack Coleman of "Dynasty," is yet another September 25 birthday, turning 48, as well.
- Bridgette Wilson, who was Lisa Fenimore on "SB," is our fourth birthday for September 25, turning such a young 37.
- Mark Hamill, the well-loved voice of the Joker in "Batman: The Animated Series," turns 59 on September 25.
- Richard Herd, our own John Mackey of "Dallas," who also portrayed Jim Ellison in a 1986 episode of "Dynasty," turns 78 on September 26.
- A Martinez, who was Cruz Castillo on "SB," will turn 62 (can you believe it?) on September 27.
- Joel Fabiani, the dashing Alex Ward on "Dallas," turns 74 on September 28.
- Steve Forrest, who was Ben Stivers / Wes Parmalee on "Dallas," turns 86 on September 29.
- Ian McShane, the handsome Don Lockwood on "Dallas," was also born on September 29, turning 68 this year.

Happy birthday to all!

BRBTV birthdays for September

- Leonard Katzman, the mastermind behind the Ewings of "Dallas," was born on September 2, 1927 and died on September 5, 1996.
- Annabel Schofield, who played Laurel Ellis on "Dallas," turns 46 on September 4.
- Roberta Weiss / Bizeau, the too-hot-to-handle Flame Beaufort of "Santa Barbara," turns 51 (bet she still looks beautiful!) on September 5.
- Sarah Cunningham, our stalwart Maggie Monahan on "Dallas," was born on September 8, 1918 and died on March 24, 1986.
- Tom Wopat, our own Luke Duke of "The Dukes of Hazzard," turns 58 on September 9.
- Constance Marie, who played Nikki Alvarez on "SB," has a birthday on September 9, as well, turning 44.
- Linda Gray, the unforgettable Sue Ellen Ewing of "Dallas," turns 69 on September 12.
- Mary Crosby, Gray's on-screen baby sister Kristin Shepard, turns 50 on September 14.
- Michael Reaves, writer for "Batman: The Animated Series," turns 59 on September 14.
- Henry Darrow, a BRBTV quadruple-shot who played Cruz Castillo's father Rafael on "Santa Barbara," showed up on an episode of "Dynasty" and the "Dukes of Hazzard" spinoff "Enos," and portrayed Garcia on "Dallas" in 1983, turns 76 on September 15.
- Janis Paige, the lovely second Minx Lockridge on "SB," turns 87 on September 16.
- Kimberly McArthur, who was the second Kelly Capwell on "SB," turns 47 on September 16.
- Morgan Woodward, who was Punk Anderson on "Dallas" and also made a couple guest appearances on "The Dukes of Hazzard" (including one that was a tribute to his appearance in the classic film "Cool Hand Luke"), has a birthday on September 16, as well, turning 84.
- Shalane McCall, our young Charlie Wade on "Dallas," is our final September 16 birthday, remaining so young at just 37.
- Roddy McDowall, who voiced Dr. Jervis Tetch / the Mad Hatter on "Batman: The Animated Series," was born on September 17, 1928 and died on October 3, 1998.
- Ross Kettle, the quite European Jeffrey Conrad on "Santa Barbara," turns 48 on September 19.
- Paul Williams, who voiced Penguin on "Batman: The Animated Series" and "The New Batman Adventures," turns 69 on September 19.
- Don Starr, our own Jordan Lee of "Dallas," was born on September 20, 1917 and died on July 11, 1995.
- The unstoppable Larry Hagman, who was, of course, the unstoppable J.R. Ewing on "Dallas," turns 78 on September 21.
- Catherine Oxenberg, who played long-lost daughter Amanda Carrington on "Dynasty," turns 48 on September 22.
- Martha Scott, memorable as Patricia Shepard on "Dallas," was born on September 22, 1912 and died on May 28, 2003.
- Heather Locklear, our own Sammy Jo of "Dynasty," who voiced the character Lisa on the "Batman: The Animated Series" episode "Prophecy of Doom," turns 48 on September 25.
- Shell Danielson, who was the later Laken Lockridge on "Santa Barbara," also has a birthday on September 25, turning 47.
- Beth Toussaint, our own Tracy Lawton on "Dallas" who's married to Jack Coleman of "Dynasty," is yet another September 25 birthday, turning 47, as well.
- Bridgette Wilson, who was Lisa Fenimore on "SB," is our fourth birthday for September 25, turning such a young 36.
- Mark Hamill, the well-loved voice of the Joker in "Batman: The Animated Series," turns 58 on September 25.
- Richard Herd, our own John Mackey of "Dallas," who also portrayed Jim Ellison in a 1986 episode of "Dynasty," turns 77 on September 26.
- A Martinez, who was Cruz Castillo on "SB," will turn 61 (can you believe it?) on September 27.
- Joel Fabiani, the dashing Alex Ward on "Dallas," turns 73 on September 28.
- Steve Forrest, who was Ben Stivers / Wes Parmalee on "Dallas," turns 85 on September 29.
- Ian McShane, the handsome Don Lockwood on "Dallas," was also born on September 29, turning 67 this year.

Happy birthday to all!

BRBTV birthdays in September ... and a peek at Dragon*Con

Happy Labor Day from BRBTV! As we begin the merry month of September, let's take a look at the birthdays coming up ...

- Leonard Katzman, the mastermind behind the Ewings of "Dallas," was born on September 2, 1927 and died on September 5, 1996.
- Annabel Schofield, who played Laurel Ellis on "Dallas," turns 45 on September 4.
- Roberta Weiss / Bizeau, the too-hot-to-handle Flame Beaufort of "Santa Barbara," turns the big 5-0 (bet she still looks beautiful!) on September 5.
- Sarah Cunningham, our stalwart Maggie Monahan on "Dallas," was born on September 8, 1918 and died on March 24, 1986.
- Tom Wopat, our own Luke Duke of "The Dukes of Hazzard," turns 57 on September 9.
- Constance Marie, who played Nikki Alvarez on "SB," has a birthday on September 9, as well, turning 43.
- Linda Gray, the unforgettable Sue Ellen Ewing of "Dallas," turns 68 on September 12.
- Mary Crosby, Gray's on-screen baby sister Kristin Shepard, turns 49 on September 14.
- Michael Reaves, writer for "Batman: The Animated Series," turns 58 on September 14.
- Henry Darrow, a BRBTV quadruple-shot who played Cruz Castillo's father Rafael on "Santa Barbara," showed up on an episode of "Dynasty" and the "Dukes of Hazzard" spinoff "Enos," and portrayed Garcia on "Dallas" in 1983, turns 75 on September 15.
- Janis Paige, the lovely second Minx Lockridge on "SB," turns 86 on September 16.
- Kimberly McArthur, who was the second Kelly Capwell on "SB," turns 46 on September 16.
- Morgan Woodward, who was Punk Anderson on "Dallas" and also made a couple guest appearances on "The Dukes of Hazzard" (including one that was a tribute to his appearance in the classic film "Cool Hand Luke"), has a birthday on September 16, as well, turning 83.
- Shalane McCall, our young Charlie Wade on "Dallas," is our final September 16 birthday, remaining so young at just 36.
- Roddy McDowall, who voiced Dr. Jervis Tetch / the Mad Hatter on "Batman: The Animated Series," was born on September 17, 1928 and died on October 3, 1998.
- Ross Kettle, the quite European Jeffrey Conrad on "Santa Barbara," turns 47 on September 19.
- Paul Williams, who voiced Penguin on "Batman: The Animated Series" and "The New Batman Adventures," turns 68 on September 19.
- Don Starr, our own Jordan Lee of "Dallas," was born on September 20, 1917 and died on July 11, 1995.
- The unstoppable Larry Hagman, who was, of course, the unstoppable J.R. Ewing on "Dallas," and will be appearing at the much-publicized Ewing Barbecue at Southfork Ranch in a few months, turns 77 on September 21.
- Catherine Oxenberg, who played long-lost daughter Amanda Carrington on "Dynasty," turns 47 on September 22.
- Martha Scott, memorable as Patricia Shepard on "Dallas," was born on September 22, 1912 and died on May 28, 2003.
- Heather Locklear, our own Sammy Jo of "Dynasty," who voiced the character Lisa on the "Batman: The Animated Series" episode "Prophecy of Doom," turns 47 on September 25.
- Shell Danielson, who was the later Laken Lockridge on "Santa Barbara," also has a birthday on September 25, turning 46.
- Beth Toussaint, our own Tracy Lawton on "Dallas" who's married to Jack Coleman of "Dynasty," is yet another September 25 birthday, turning 46, as well.
- Bridgette Wilson, who was Lisa Fenimore on "SB," is our fourth birthday for September 25, turning such a young 35.
- Mark Hamill, the well-loved voice of the Joker in "Batman: The Animated Series," turns 57 on September 25.
- Richard Herd, our own John Mackey of "Dallas," who also portrayed Jim Ellison in a 1986 episode of "Dynasty," turns 76 on September 26.
- A Martinez, who was Cruz Castillo on "SB," will turn 60 (can you believe it?) on September 27.
- Joel Fabiani, the dashing Alex Ward on "Dallas," turns 72 on September 28.
- Steve Forrest, who was Ben Stivers / Wes Parmalee on "Dallas," turns 84 on September 29.
- Ian McShane, the handsome Don Lockwood on "Dallas," was also born on September 29, turning 66 this year.

Happy birthday to all!

My, what a big boy you are!!!!

We must admit, the last time we were at Atlanta's Dragon*Con was 1999, when we had the pleasure of meeting Don Pedro Colley, among others. My, my, my, how the event has grown! BRBTV was at the lobby of the Marriott Marquis yesterday afternoon for a meeting and had occasion to snap these quick shots ...

Now, keep in mind, as you view the first photo ... the Marriott Marquis was only one of the FOUR host hotels for the event, and this was Sunday afternoon, not Saturday ...




(We just had to get those latter two shots to capture the fact that this is quite a stunning hotel.) Wethinks we'll be doing more than just a simple one-hour meeting next year!

Photos by Billie Rae Bates / BRBTV
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